150 CARNIVORA. 



The skin of the Sea-Otter has greatly enhanced in 

 value of late years, owing to its steadily decreasing 

 numbers. £200 is the highest recorded price for a 

 skin, and iJlOO is not considered an extraordinary price, 

 although a few years ago i'88 was considered pheno- 

 menal. 



Two thousand three hundred and sixty-nine skins 

 were imported by the Alaska Commercial Company and 

 other traders in 1891, and nine by the Hudson's Bay 

 Company. The amount of the Sea-Otter sale is about 

 £100,000. The average price in 1888 was £21 10s. ; in 

 1889, £33 ; and in 1891, £57. According to Elliott, 

 from 1772 to 1774, about 10,000 were captured annually, 

 and 15,000 in 1804. He also says that Belcovsky is 

 the chief trading station. 



The skins are occasionally smoked, and are also dyed 

 or topped. The Alaska or Aleutian skins are open at 

 the end, and imported cased. 



This fur is principally consumed in Eussia, where it 

 is used for collars of noblemen's coats. Small skins 

 are used in France. A few skins are bought for the 

 United States and Canada. 



The import of Sea-Otter fur was formerly prohibited 

 in Eussia ; it is now subject to a high duty. It is said 

 that this fur was formerly extensively used by the 

 Chinese. Nearly every skin procured is sold in London. 



The Sea-Otters on the North-west coast of America 

 are hunted in canoes formed into a circle. When the 

 animal is sighted, it is pursued and shot at. It then 

 dives, remaining for some time under the water. When 

 it reaches the surface, it is again pursued, and it dives 

 once more to elude its pursuers. This is repeated many 

 times, the dives being gradually shortened, until it is at 

 last caught. The hunters generally meet the schooners 



